On musiciansfriend.com, I was looking at two Casios, the Casio PX-700 Privia Digital Piano and the Casio Privia PX-200 88-Key Digital Piano. I was wondering if anybody could recommend one over the other, or a competing model for about the same price. I did see a recommendation for the PX-200 somewhere on this site, but the 700 has a higher list price and this makes me think that it might be on sale but is a superior instrument?

So you can guage my interest, I don't play piano but I do play and study music and take it seriously, so this would be a learning instrument for somebody who loves writing for piano and now has no access to one. However, I don't trust myself to just walk into a store alone and pick the right instrument when I am a massive beginner with piano technique. I could never produce all the sounds to judge what I'd want in the instrument several years from now, so perhaps somebody can give me some insight into these two pianos. When I actually do purchase one, I will probably head to the store with a pianist friend...

No PX700 is an older generation (I own one myself).
PX200 just came out this year. PX200 has improved sound, and some extra features. PX700 on the other hand comes with built in cabinet, but is about 2-3 years old product at this point. Having a choice between the two, I'd probably go with PX200, and purchase a separate bench for it.

If you're new to piano, then you are right - you have no way of knowing what's good for you. I was in a similar situation, and simply went for the cheapest weighted piano I could find. Depending on your budget, Casio Privia PX110 is the cheapest solution (priced at about $400).

PX200 & PX800 are new models (available in US only this year), while PX700 is older model.

PX200/800 has 128 polyphony as the highest of Casio models so far, while all PX series previously has only 32 polyphony.

my suggestion is to buy the newest model, because there's always some improvement on new models in general.

Thanks guys...although unfortunately the new one doesn't come with a pedal board or stand...that will probably cost almost as much as to just go to the 800 which comes with those.

BTW, what does 128 polyphony mean on a keyboard with 88 keys...?

Sripsycho85,

I am new to pianos too so I asked a similar question regarding polyphony. You can see the responses to it here:

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/6/3507.html

Warmest regards,
-Gnimble

The PX-700 seems to be an older model with
32 note polyphony. The PX-200 seems like the
latest model with 128 note polyphony. However,
the 700 comes with the factory stand with 3
built-in pedals, which is why the price is $700.00
for each. The higher polyphony
number should mean better overall sound,
but not so much that it's going to make
a universe of difference--most players would
not be able to play well enough so that
this is going to be a significant factor
in general playing. The PX-800 seems to
be the PX-200 with the factory stand and 3
built-in pedals, but the price is now
$900.00.

If price is a consideration, you
could get the PX-200 for $700.00, and then
get a stand and pedal separately. An
X-type folding stand would be about
$20.00, and a single sustain pedal would
be about $30.00--or you could just
put in on a table and not bother with
getting a stand. The factory stand with
the 3 built-in pedals would be much nicer,
but you don't really need the lt. and middle
pedals. I've never used anything but
the rt. pedal in all the yrs. I've played.